COVID-19 Can Cause Severe Sore Throat: These 9 Remedies Can Help You Feel Better Fast

If you’ve recently been diagnosed with COVID-19, a sore throat may have been your first clue that something wasn’t right. Studies show that sore throat is now a common symptom of COVID illness. In one survey, more than half of people in the U.K. reported having a sore throat when they had COVID-19.

COVID sore throat — or COVID pharyngitis — can be very painful. If you’re looking for ways to treat your COVID sore throat, here are nine science-backed ways to feel better faster.

What are the symptoms of COVID sore throat?

Pain is the most noticeable symptom of COVID sore throat. But it can feel different for each person. Some people describe COVID sore throat as the most painful sore throat they’ve ever experienced. Others say it’s more similar to a sore throat from a regular cold.

Other symptoms of a COVID sore throat can include:

• Pain when swallowing or talking

• Trouble eating or drinking because of pain

• Itching in your throat

• Redness in the back of your throat

Along with a sore throat, people may have other common symptoms of COVID-19, like:

• Fever

• Fatigue

• Cough

• Runny nose

• Headache

What is ‘razor blade throat’?

“Razor blade throat” isn’t a medical term. It’s a phrase some people use to describe the pain they feel with pharyngitis (throat inflammation). It’s a severe, sharp pain that feels like razor blades in the back of your throat. You may feel this pain when you:

• Swallow

• Talk

• Sneeze

• Cough

COVID is one of the many viruses and bacteria that can cause pharyngitis. The Ebstein-Barr virus (which causes mononucleosis) and Group A Streptococcus (the bacteria that causes strep throat) cause severe throat inflammation. Many people describe this pain as “razor blade throat” when they have these illnesses.

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Early on, the COVID virus didn’t cause severe pharyngitis. That changed with the emergence of the Omicron variant. There’s evidence that the COVID Omicron variant causes more throat inflammation than previous variants. 

Newer subvariants, like NB.1.8.1, may cause even more inflammation than the original Omicron variant. As NB.1.8.1 spreads, more people are reporting “razor blade throat” with COVID illness. 

What are the best COVID sore throat remedies?

There’s no cure for COVID-19. And since it’s caused by a virus, antibiotics won’t help your sore throat feel better. A COVID sore throat will go away on its own, but it can last up to 2 weeks.

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The good news is that there are plenty of treatments you can try at home to get relief from your COVID sore throat. 

There aren’t studies that compare these treatments, so it’s impossible to say which option is the best. The right remedy for your COVID sore throat might be one (or a mix) of the options below.

1. Cold liquids

Cold liquids and foods are like an ice pack for your throat. They’re also some of the best foods to help relieve a sore throat. Sipping on cold liquids throughout the day can help. You can also try ice chips, popsicles, and ice cream. 

2. Warm fluids

Warm drinks can also help soothe sore throat pain inflammation. Some people swear by heat versus cold for pain relief. But there’s no evidence that one is actually better than the other, especially for relieving sore throats. If cold liquids don’t help, try warm ones instead — or try both. 

Just make sure the liquids aren’t too hot, so you don’t burn your throat and worsen your pain. Good options include warm tea, broth, and soups. 

3. Over-the-counter pain relievers

Over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Motrin) can relieve your COVID sore throat pain for a few hours at a time.

Some studies show that ibuprofen works better for sore throat pain relief than acetaminophen. While these studies didn’t specifically look at COVID sore throat, either medication can help.

If you have certain medical conditions, one of these medications may be safer for you than others. A healthcare professional can give you advice on which pain reliever is right for you. 

4. Throat lozenges and sprays

OTC throat lozenges and sprays can also provide pain relief by temporarily numbing the area. Sprays can be harder to use, so most people prefer lozenges. But for young children or older adults who have swallowing difficulties, lozenges are a choking hazard — so sprays are the way to go.

Look for lozenges and spray with these active ingredients:

• Menthol

• Dyclonine

• Benzocaine 

Some lozenges contain both menthol and benzocaine for extra relief. 

You can also try honey, which can coat the back of your throat and provide pain relief. There’s no data to show that honey specifically helps relieve COVID sore throat. But research shows that honey can relieve throat pain in adults who have other types of sore throat. Honey is a safe option for anyone over 12 months old.

5. Saltwater gargles

This common home remedy can help relieve sore throat and pain from mouth inflammation. One study showed that saltwater gargles relieved sore throat pain just as well as a prescription-strength numbing medication. 

Here’s how to do a saltwater gargle:

1. Mix ½ tsp of salt in 8 oz of warm water. Stir until all the salt is dissolved. 

2. Take a sip, tilt your head back, and gargle for about 10 seconds. 

3. Spit it out into the sink. 

4. Repeat this process until your pain feels better. 

You can do a saltwater gargle every 3 hours.

6. Moist air

Breathing in moist air may help soothe your sore throat. You can breathe in the steam from a shower or even a hot bowl of water. You can also run a humidifier, which may also help other COVID-19 symptoms, like congestion. 

7. Complementary and alternative medicine

There aren’t studies looking at complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments for COVID sore throat. But some studies have looked at CAM for sore throat from other causes. 

There’s some evidence that acupuncture can temporarily relieve sore throat. There’s also evidence that traditional Chinese herbs can relieve throat pain. 

8. COVID-19 antivirals

If you’re at high risk for severe COVID-19 illness, you may be eligible for antiviral treatment. These medicines can help lower your chance of getting severely sick and may also relieve your symptoms. 

Paxlovid is the most commonly prescribed COVID-19 antiviral. For it to help, you need to start it by the 5th day of your symptoms. Paxlovid and other COVID-19 antivirals are only available by prescription. If you’re at risk for developing severe COVID-19 illness, talk to a healthcare professional about antiviral treatment. 

9. Throat rest

Throat rest means giving your throat a break so it can heal. This isn’t exactly a treatment. But it can keep you from accidentally making your COVID sore throat worse. 

Until you recover, avoid things that can irritate your throat like:

• Crunchy foods (like chips), which have sharp edges that might scratch your throat

• Spicy or acidic foods (including coffee), which can further irritate your throat

• Smoke, which dries out your throat and makes throat pain worse

It’s also a good idea to avoid shouting and yelling. This can strain your throat muscles and vocal cords and worsen your sore throat. 

How do you know if your sore throat is caused by COVID-19 or something else?

You can’t tell if your sore throat is from COVID-19 just by looking at your symptoms. You’ll need to get a COVID test to know for sure whether your symptoms are from COVID or another infection. 

Here are some things to keep in mind: 

• Flu and RSV don’t typically cause sore throat. But they can lead to congestion and postnasal drip, which may irritate your throat.

• Strep throat is a bacterial infection that also causes throat pain and fever. Unlike COVID, it usually doesn’t cause congestion or a runny nose. Strep throat is more common in kids, but adults can get it too.

How long does a COVID-19 sore throat last?

Most symptoms of COVID-19 last anywhere from several days to 2 weeks. But this can vary from person to person.

COVID sore throat usually starts feeling better after a week, though it may take a little longer to completely go away. Contact your healthcare team if your sore throat isn’t getting better within a week or if it gets worse at any point.

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Written by:

Shiv Sudhakar, MD

Shiv Sudhakar, MD, is a fellow of the Infectious Disease Society of America and works as a physician in California. He has co-authored over 10 peer-reviewed research articles and given 20 scientific presentations.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

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